Device for gauging and sampling liquids in closed containers



Sept. 24, 1940. H. o. PARSONS 3 5 DEVICE FOR GAUGING AND SAMPLING LIQUIDS IN CLOSED CONTAINERS- I Filed 001;..23, 193? 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 v Sqa't. 24. 1940. H. o. PARSONS 2,215,594

DEVICE FDR GAUGING AND SAMPLING LIQUIDS IN CLOSED CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 23, 1937 Sept. 24, 1940. H. o. PARSONS 2,215,594

DEVICE .FOR GAUGING AND SAMPLING-LIQUIDS IN CLOSED CQNTAINERS Filed on. 23, 93? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 24, 1940 "UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR -GAUGING AND SAMPLING LIQUIDS IN CLOSED CONTAINERS Harrison ousramns, Houston, Tex.

Application October 23, 1937, Serial No. 170,555

tions existing therein. The device may also be used to obtain samples of liquid from a container under super-atmospheric pressure, without danger of the uncontrolled release of the pressure in the container or of the contents thereof.

The invention and its scope may be fully understood from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same numerals are used to identify similar parts.

Fig. 1 is a detail side elevation of the device, with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away showing the details of the seals between the gauge tubeand its housing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the gauge tube, with parts broken away and 25 showing the inlet valve for liquid-in a closed position.

.Fig. 4 is an enlargedview of the lower end of the gauge tube, with parts broken away and showing the inlet valve for position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a tank car at the dome, showing one application of the device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical end sectional view through showing another an underground storage tank application of the device.-

Referring now .to the drawings in Flg. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a device according to this invention in which numeral l designates a ,tu- 40 bular housing formed of sections 2- and 2" joined as by a-collar 4 with their ends separated by a packing gland 5. The'housing I carries at its lower end a sleeve 6' having lateral-openings I therein. A plug 8 having-a groove 9' in its inner liquid in an open A vent opening I6 is provided in that portion of the housing which may be disposed within a container and below the packing gland 5.

Contained withinjthe housing assembly described above'and carried thereby, is the gauging and sampling assembly of the device indicated by 5 the numeral l'l. As illustrated, the assembly comprises a tubular casing formed by a top section IS, a gauge section IS, an intermediate section 20 and a bottom section 2|, as well as those elements associated therewith and described in 10 detail below. Of course the sections may be lengthened or increased in number without interfering in any manner with the operation of 'the device. 4

The respective sections are joined by means 5 of couplings which provide a. substantially smoothouter surface for the casing of the assembly I1, and permit sliding movement thereof through the packing gland 5 carried by the hous- .ing I. In the form illustrated, the gauge section 19 is joined tothe top section i8 and to the intermediate section 20 by means of couplings 22 and 23 having exteriorly threaded ends, adapted for engagement interiorly of the respective sections, and annular flange 24 of a width substantially equal to the wall thickness of the sections. In addition, couplingsv 22 and 23 coopcrate with annular members 25 and 26 and compressible packing rings 21 to provide packing glands supporting a gauge glass 28 in fluid tight 3o along the edges of the slot 29 as desired. The coupling 22 has a recess in the lower end into which the glass 28 extends, a passage-- 1 way it extending upwardly therefrom through the upper end of the coupling and opening into the interior of the top section and a valved o passageway 32 extending upwardly from the recess and then outwardly through the flange .24, opening into the annular space within the housing I. The juncture of the gauge section with that next above is so arranged as to be below the packing gland 5 when the gauging assembly I1 is completely sheathed. A valve seat is provided in.the passageway 22 at the angular portion thereof.

The coupling 23 is of a generally annular form, the gauge glass 28 passing therethrough to seat I on the member 26 which is provided with an in-' wardly extending, flange 33 adapted to receive the end of the glass.

The'intermediate section 20 1s Joined to the viewed. Calibrated markings may be disposed I bottom section 2| by means of a coupling 34 which as shown illustrates another form of coupling for the purpose indicated. In this instance the coupling is provided with a. central passageway 35 in which is disposed a check valve 35 which rests upon perforated plate 58 when in its open position. Check valve 38 has been provided in the gauge 2 to increase the safety-factor and prevent the escape of volatile material from the reservoir in event of damage to the upper part of the gauge 2.

The bottom section 2| has a circumferential groove 31 formed in its outer surface intermediate the ends, and an exteriorly threaded portion 38 spaced from the lower end. The lower end of the section 2| is machined or otherwise formed in such manner as to provide for a fluid tight seal with a disc of compressible material 39 disposed in the bottom of a closure 40 for the end of the casing. This closure comprises a cylindrical cap interiorly threaded intermediate of its length. A set screw 4| is threaded through the upper end of the cap so as to. extend into the groove of the section 2|. The cap has a port 42 near the bottom and a lug 43, exteriorly of its closed end, which is designed to fit into the groove 9 in the plug 8.

The top section l8 extends through the stufiing box member H and packing gland 44 and carries at its outer end, and containable within the vapor cap l2, the gauge head 45. The head is provided with suitable openings for stemmed valves 48 and 41 which extend therethrough and with a passageway 48 opening through the head and preferably through a threaded nipple 49 thereon. The valve 45 is seated in the passageway 48 while the valve 41, extending downwardly through the top section 18. and through an opening in the coupling 22, is seated in the passageway 32. The head 45 and stumng box ll may be provided for separable engagement in any suitable manner if so desired.

In Fig. 2 that portionoi the housing I and assembly I! including the packing gland and coupling 22, is shown in greater detail. A set screw 50 is shown as maintaining the tightness of the collared joint in the housing. a

In Figs. 3 and 4, the relationship of the parts comprising the lower end of the gauge assembly I! are shown with the valve device thereby pro- I vided in closed and open positions respectively. These figures show the use of multiple set screws 4| in order to prevent jamming of the cap 40.

In Fig. 5, the application of the invention to a. tank car is represented. In this case, the device extends up into the dome of the car and the collar Ill as shown in Fig. 1 may be omitted by threading the member ll into the upper end of a suitable opening in the part tion 5 I, and the upper end of the housing I into e lower end of the same opening. Incident to the showing of this figure are the parts of the tank car including dome 52, cover 53, and drain valve 54. A level of liquid in the car body is shown as at 55.

In Fig. 6, the application of the invention to an underground storage tank is shown, in which the numeral 56 designates the tank and 51 the liquid level therein. In this instance, it will be noted, that the vent l5 has been located nearer the lower end of the housing I so as-to be disposed within the tank 58. Also, for the purpose of illustrating the operation of the gauge device, the gauge assembly I! is shown in an unsheathed position, as when the liquid level is to be read from the gauge glass 28 and calibrated slot 29.

Furthermore, as is indicated in this illustration,

it is sometimes possible to omit the packing from which considerable evaporation may take place, the packing gland 5 should always be provided so as to prevent loss and fire hazard should the valve head or packing gland be damaged in any manner.

It should be evident from the foregoing description that this invention is particularly useful in gauging liquid levels in containers in which access to the liquid is hazardous or difllcult, when either very volatile liquids or liquids under pressure are involvedor when the devices such as ordinarily used are in any way unsuitable. .By means of the present invention it is possible to gauge the level of the liquid in a sealed container without escape of vapors or liquid and without the atmosphere surrounding the container coming in contact with the liquid to be gauged.

There are two methods by which the gauging operation may be carried out. The first is suitable for use under any pressure conditions existing in the tank, while the second is a convenient method of gauging liquid held under pressure somewhat greater than atmospheric.

By the first method, the gauging assembly is turned in the housing while fully sheathed, in order to uncover the port 42 in the cap 40 which is normally closed by the end of the casing assembly ll. The lug 43 engages the groove 9 so as to maintain the cap 40 stationary while the casing I1 is unthreaded until the set screws 4| stop-further movement. The valve 41 is then withdrawn from its seat in the passageway 32, equalizing the pressure in the casing I! with that of the container, through the vent l5. Allowing a brief interval for such equalization, the valve 41 is again closed, the port 42 recovered by reverse movement of'the casing and then the casing unsheathed from the-housing. p rmitting the liquid level in the tube 28 to be directly viewed through the slot 29 and the level read according to the calibration thereon.

According to the second method, the port 42 is opened in the manner described above and the casing unsheathed for such length as is considered sufiicient to clear the estimated liquid level. The valve 48 is then opened slightly and the casing lowered gradually until the liquid is discharged .irom the nipple 49, at which point it is known that the port 42 has reached the liquid level. By noting the position of the calibration on the slot 29 with relation to a fixed point such as the upper end of the stufling box member II, the liquid level may be determined with a fair degree of accuracy. Although the loss of pressure and liquid through the passageway 48 will be very small, this method is only satisfactory when exceedingly accurate readings, without loss of any sort, are not required or when only the approximate maximum upper level is required.

When the device is to be used as a sampling device, it is only necessary, after-opening the port 42 as described, to raise the casing a distance great enough' to place a receptacle under the nipple 49 and open the valve 46, permitting liquid to how fromthe'casing under pressure of the container contents. Obviously, sampling is most convenient when the container is under super-atmospheric pressure, although by applying sumcient suction at the nipple 49 a sample may be obtained when the container is under atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure.

Various changes and alternate arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is intended to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A gauge comprising a tubular casing, a valve closure for the lower end of the casing, a valve head closing the upper end of the casing, a sight glass sealed in an intermediate portion of the passageway of the casing, the casing being slotted opposite the glass, the valve head having an outlet, a valve controlling the outlet, the casing having a lateral outlet between the glass and the valve head, and a valve controlling the lateral outlet.

2. A gauge device according to claim 1 in which the gauge is disposed in a tubular housing adapted to depend a predetermined distance from the roof of the container and having an inlet at its lower end, and interlocking means between the housing and the valve closure whereby the closure is opened or closed by turning the casing.

3. An apparatus for'gauging and sampling liquids in a closed container comprising a housing extending into the container and in free communication with the contents thereof, a gauge casing, including a sight glass, extending into the housing 'from its upper end, a valved closure for the upper end of said casing and a valved closure for the lower end thereof, means for operating the valve in the closure for the lower end, means for equalizing pressure within the casing with that existing in the housing and in the container, means for withdrawing liquid through the casing and means for maintaining a fluid tight seal between the casing and housing while permitting partial withdrawal of the former from the latter.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which the valved closure for the lower end of said casing comprises a cap for said end having a lateral opening in the side wall in close proximity to the bottom of said cap, which opening is closable by the end of the casing threaded into the cap, a projection on the bottom of the cap adapted to be held while the casing is rotated and a circumferential groove in the casing adjacent the end into which extend stops on the cap to limit movement of the casing with relation thereto.

5. A device for collecting a sample of liquid from a reservoir, comprising a housing adapted to be suspended in said reservoir and being provided with ports to establish open'fluid connection be ween the reservoir and the interior of the housing, a casing projecting into said housing and mounted for rotation relative thereto and a valve at the lower end of said casing normally sealing the interior of said casing from the interior of said housing and operable by r0- tation relative to the casing, and means on the housing engageable with the valve whereby the valve is opened upon relative rotation of the casing with respect to the housing to establish .fluid' connection between the interior of said casing and the interior of said housing.

6. A sampler according to claim'5 in which the lower end of the casing is open and the valve 'on said casing consists of a cylindrical cap adapted to fit over the lower .end of said casing andprovided with an inlet port adjacent its closed end, interacting means on said cap and said casing for effecting relative longitudinal movement of the two upon relative rotation thereof, and means carried by said cap and coacting with said housing for holding said cap against rotation when said casing is rotated.

7. A sampler according to claim 5 in which the bottom wall of the housing is provided with a socket of irregular shape, the lower end of the casing is open and the valve for said casing is a cylindrical cap, the closed end of which constitutes a seat for the open end of said casing,

said cap being provided with an inlet port, in-

teracting means on said cap and said casing for effecting relative longitudinal movement of the two upon relative rotation thereof, and a, stud carried by said cap having a configuration conforming to that of said socket and adapted to fit into said socket to hold said cap from rotation when the casing rotates.

HARRISON OTIS PARSONS. 

